A rare hush had fallen over the city of Hashan, and a grizzled sailor
was spending the evening in the Eventide Alehouse chatting up a young
xoran named Asrai and her siren mother, Amylia. He was on shore leave,
he explained, taking a break from the dangers of the sea. As the hours
passed, he shared rumours of ships disappearing suddenly, without
warning, and great sea serpents with bellies of gold to be seen near the
southern continent of Meropis.

As a Merchant of the Crown, Amylia's interest was piqued by the mention
of gold. Quickly she made some inquiries, seeking a ship with the
necessary equipment to do battle in the southern seas, and enlisted the
service of Kakon, captain of the Stygian Cutlass. Adding the support of
Teram, a young monk, the priestess Elowen, and the dragons Ganelon and
Hideyoshi to a day's preparation, the small party set sail for waters
unknown.

Expertly the crew of the Stygian Cutlass navigated the northern coast of
Meropis, emerging from the choppy waters to the untroubled calm of the
Gulf of Nilakantha. Continuing along the coastline, a serpent was
sighted to the north, and the seastrider changed its course to give
chase.

As the ship approached, the sea serpent swam directly toward them,
baring a mouthful of fangs in a reptilian snarl. Surging through the
water, the serpent crashed against the ship's hull.

"Fire!" called out Amylia, releasing the mechanism on an Arcanian arm
thrower. The battle had begun.

Ballista darts pierced the air, flying toward the serpent and driving
deeply into its side, while rotating discs sailed over the water to
pummel its body. The serpent began to flee, but was quickly overtaken
and the crew congratulated each other on their success. But the serpent
was not alone.

More serpents lurked in the choppy waters to the north, Elowen called
down from the crow's nest. Kakon barked orders, and the seafarers began
to systematically fire upon each serpent as the crew doggedly rowed
through the chops. Soon ammunition began to run low, and they were
forced to pull back to make repairs and assess the situation.

Surveying the damage, Kakon reported that the weapons had taken heavy
damage, and all pitched in to make repairs on the splintering timber
while Elowen kept a close eye on the sea. Mustering their energy for a
final push, the ship was finally made ready and the crew rowed back into
the tempestuous waters.

"Ganelon and Amylia will work the thrower," ordered Kakon. "Hideyoshi
and Teram, the ballista."

A trio of raging serpents was the final obstacle as the ship inched
further northward. Ensnaring the hull in their sinuous bodies, their
constriction threatened to snap the timbers in half until, at last, the
crew of the Stygian Cutlass was victorious. The nest of writhing
creatures defeated, the ship moved easily through the ocean, coming in
sight of an island none of them had seen before.

Reaching a small natural harbour, the ship docked and all disembarked,
discovering a lush jungle inhabited by a friendly community of xoran. As
they began their explorations, a daemonic hiss resonated throughout the
jungle, only the first of many mysteries to be uncovered upon the Isle
of Prin.

Penned by My hand on the 19th of Ero, in the year 511 AF.